
Highlights
WHAT IS IT?
Clarifying Treatment Toner with key exfoliating ingredients (AHA, BHA, Glycolic Acid) and natural water bases
FEATURES
Exfoliates and rejuvenates skin, prevents whiteheads and blackheads, improves skin texture, controls excess sebum, clears pores, reduces post-breakout scars, non-sticky, gentle formulation, cruelty-free
BEST FOR
combination
CHECKS
Does not contain sticky formula
Who Is It For?
All Genders No Explicit Age Range SpecifiedWhat Does It Help With?
Exfoliation Clogged Pores Whiteheads Blackheads Blemishes Post-breakout Scars Dull SkinBudget
Mid-range ($30-$75)How To Use
Which routine should it be used in?
Instructions:
Key Information
What Nykaa E retail limited Says
Product Description:
The COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner is a multi-use daily mild exfoliating liquid that contains AHA, BHA, and glycolic acid. It helps eliminate impurities, exfoliate, and hydrate the skin all in one step. The formula gently exfoliates dull skin, removes dead skin cells, prevents the early development of whiteheads and blackheads, and helps the skin become clearer, brighter, and smoother over time. It is formulated with natural ingredients like 10% apple fruit water (AHA), 10% willow bark water (BHA), and a mineral water base that helps improve skin texture, increase vitality, and tighten pores. Features: Toner that exfoliates and rejuvenates skin while preventing whiteheads, blackheads, and blemishes, Made with natural ingredients, it improves the skin texture and controls excess sebum, Clears congested pores, Reduces appearance of post-breakout scars, Non-sticky formula keeps the skin fresh and hydrated all day long, Gentle exfoliating formula, suitable for beginners and for daily use, COSRX products are cruelty-free. About the Brand: COSRX is a best-selling Korean skincare brand renowned for its effective skincare solutions. Their name reflects their values and is derived from 'Cos (metics)' and 'Rx (medical prescription)'. This award-winning brand has various product lines that address acne, exfoliation, hydration, and more! They approach these aspects with gentle, skin-friendly ingredients and innovative formulations. All their products are cruelty-free and dermatologist-tested.
About the Brand:
Ingredients Overview
Ingredients List
Water,Salix-Alba-(Willow)-Bark-Water,Pyrus-Malus-(Apple)-Fruit-Water,Butylene-Glycol,1,2-Hexanediol,Sodium-Lactate,Glycolic-Acid,Betaine-Salicylate,Allantoin,Panthenol,Ethyl-Hexanediol
Key Ingredients
Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Water,Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Water,Glycolic Acid,Betaine Salicylate
Ingredients Details
1-2-hexanediol
Common Name(s): 1-2-hexanediol,cosmetic active,functional ingredient
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Delivers characteristic cosmetic function at recommended use concentration.
Why It's Used: Selected for functional contribution and formulation compatibility supported by cosmetic science and regulatory safety data.
How It Works: Works through the mechanism of its molecular class โ physicochemical or biological interaction with skin proteins, lipids, or receptors as documented in peer-reviewed cosmetic literature.
Typically Found In: Skin care formulations
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ cosmetic active
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
1-2-hexanediol has an established safety and efficacy profile within the cosmetic regulatory framework at standard use concentrations.
Last Verified: Cosing database,1-2-hexanediol technical literature
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Allantoin
Common Name(s): 5-ureidohydantoin,glyoxyldiureide,aluminum dihydroxy allantoinate
CAS Number: 97-59-6
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Soothes irritation, accelerates wound healing, promotes skin cell renewal, and provides mild keratolytic exfoliation.
Why It's Used: Gold standard multi-function soothing active โ one of the most widely used cosmetic ingredients across all product types for its exceptional tolerability and clinically proven multi-action skin conditioning.
How It Works: Promotes keratinocyte proliferation and fibroblast migration for wound healing. mild keratolytic activity by disrupting corneocyte binding. anti-irritant via direct protein binding and anti-inflammatory cytokine reduction. humectant activity via hydroxyl groups.
Typically Found In: Post-procedure products,sensitive skin formulas,wound care,anti-acne treatments,baby products
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ soothing / anti-inflammatory
Secondary Functions: Wound healing,keratolytic,anti-irritant
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ2%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ synthetic or comfrey-derived
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Plant-derived extract or synthetic.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Exceptionally well-tolerated; suitable for all skin types including baby and compromised skin.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes โ particularly recommended for sensitive skin
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Ceramides,panthenol,allantoin,hyaluronic acid,centella asiatica
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Allantoin's keratinocyte proliferation stimulation occurs via receptor-mediated signaling (possibly machr activation) rather than non-specific irritation-driven proliferation, making it a true wound-healing stimulant rather than a pro-inflammatory proliferative signal.
Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment,araรบjo et al. allantoin review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Panthenol
Common Name(s): Provitamin b5,d-panthenol,dl-panthenol,d-pantothenyl alcohol,(r)-2,4-dihydroxy-n-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethylbutanamide
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Panthenol deeply moisturizes skin and hair, soothes irritation, accelerates wound healing, strengthens the skin barrier, and improves hair elasticity and shine.
Why It's Used: It is used because it is exceptionally versatile, working in both skin and hair formulations. it is gentle enough for sensitive and post-procedure skin, and converts to the active vitamin b5 within the skin.
How It Works: Panthenol penetrates skin and hair, where it is oxidized to pantothenic acid (vitamin b5), a coenzyme a precursor essential to metabolism. in skin, it acts as a humectant and stimulates fibroblast proliferation. in hair, it coats the shaft, improving manageability.
Typically Found In: Moisturizers,serums,toners,after-sun products,wound healing products,shampoos,conditioners,hair masks,beard care
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ provitamin b5
Secondary Functions: Anti-inflammatory,wound healing,hair conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.5%โ5% (typical: 1โ3%)
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ synthetically produced
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially synthesized. both d- and dl-forms used in cosmetics; d-panthenol is the biologically active isomer but dl-panthenol is less expensive and widely used.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low; one of the most soothing ingredients in cosmetics
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Extremely rare contact allergy; considered one of the safest cosmetic ingredients. suitable for all skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes โ ideal for sensitive, reactive, and post-procedure skin
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Exceptionally safe. ewg hazard score: 1. no significant concerns for irritation, sensitization, or systemic toxicity. safe during pregnancy.
Works Well With: Hyaluronic acid,ceramides,allantoin,niacinamide,centella asiatica,retinol (reduces irritation),glycerin
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Panthenol has demonstrated wound-healing properties in clinical studies, stimulating fibroblast proliferation and migration. its dual humectant and anti-inflammatory action makes it particularly effective in barrier-repair formulations.
Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment,ebner et al. (2002) skin pharmacology and applied skin physiology
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Water
Common Name(s): Water,purified water,deionised water,inci water
CAS Number: 7732-18-5
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides the universal solvent and vehicle for water-soluble actives and the continuous phase of all o/w emulsions.
Why It's Used: The most essential cosmetic ingredient โ aqua (water) is listed first on virtually all water-containing cosmetic inci labels as the highest-concentration ingredient, serving as the foundation of the global cosmetics industry.
How It Works: Acts as solvent for all water-soluble ingredients (glycols, amino acids, water-soluble actives). forms the continuous external phase of o/w emulsions (lotions, creams, serums). provides aqueous environment for enzymatic and chemical reactions between actives. ph adjustment medium.
Typically Found In: Virtually all cosmetic products โ the most universal cosmetic ingredient globally
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ water
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: Varies widely โ up to 95% in some toners and serums
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ water (deionised/purified)
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Cosmetic-grade water is purified (deionised, distilled, or ro filtered) to prevent mineral content interference with formulation stability. european pharmacopoeial water (aqua purificata ph. eur.) is the quality standard for pharmaceutical and high-end cosmetic formulations.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ non-irritant
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Water's position as the first inci ingredient on most cosmetic labels reflects the regulatory requirement to list ingredients in descending concentration order โ meaning water is the most abundant ingredient in the majority of cosmetic products. the fundamental role of water as the universal cosmetic solvent and vehicle makes it simultaneously the most important cosmetic ingredient and the one that requires the most sophisticated formulation chemistry to control โ every emulsifier, thickener, preservative, and ph adjuster exists primarily to manage water's interaction with other ingredients in formulation.
Last Verified: Cosing database,eu cosmetics regulation 1223/2009 inci requirements,ph. eur. aqua purificata monograph
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12